New Delhi, Aug. 24 -- Dale Morris, one of the leading figures in Nashville music management who helped build the superstar careers of Alabama and Kenny Chesney, has died at the age of 89.

Morris died peacefully in his sleep on Friday night, 21 August, according to his representatives. A specific cause of death was not provided.

"He lived a big, bold, beautiful, blessed life, and I'm holding onto that right now," Clint Higham, president of Morris Higham Management, said in a statement about his mentor and longtime business partner. "It's the end of an era."

Morris began his career in the music industry as a songwriter, writing Johnny Paycheck's 1967 single "Don't Monkey With Another Monkey's Monkey", before moving to the business side o...